DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-81,182

GFF HOLDING COMPANY
SOPERTON, GEORGIA

TA-W-81,182A

GFF HOLDING COMPANY
LAGRANGE, GEORGIA

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended (“Act”), 19 U.S.C. § 2273, the Department of Labor
herein presents the results of an investigation regarding
certification of eligibility to apply for worker adjustment
assistance.
The group eligibility requirements for workers of a firm
under Section 222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a), are
satisfied if the following criteria are met:
(1) a significant number or proportion of the workers in such
workers’ firm have become totally or partially separated, or
are threatened to become totally or partially separated; and

(2)(A)(i) the sales or production, or both, of such firm have
decreased absolutely; and

(ii)(I) imports of articles or services like or directly
competitive with articles produced or services supplied by
such firm have increased; and

(iii) the increase in imports described in clause (ii)
contributed importantly to such workers’ separation or
threat of separation and to the decline in the sales or
production of such firm.

The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
filed on December 21, 2011 by a company official on behalf of
workers of GFF Holding Company, Soperton, Georgia (TA-W-81,182)
and LaGrange, Georgia (TA-W-81,182A). The workers’ firm is
engaged in activities related to the production of polypropylene
carpet and rug backing.
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the workers’ firm and publicly available sources
of data.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant
number or proportion of the workers in such workers’ firm have
become totally or partially separated, or are threatened to
become totally or partially separated.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and/or production of polypropylene carpet and rug backing by
GFF Holding Company decreased absolutely.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because aggregate
imports of articles like or directly competitive with the
polypropylene carpet and rug backing produced by GFF Holding
Company have increased.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased aggregate imports contributed importantly to the
worker group separations and sales/production declines at GFF
Holding Company.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of GFF Holding Company,
Soperton, Georgia (TA-W-81,182) and LaGrange, Georgia (TA-W-
81,182A), who are engaged in activities related to the
production of polypropylene carpet and rug backing meet the
worker group certification criteria under Section 222(a) of the
Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a). In accordance with Section 223 of the
Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2273, I make the following certification:
“All workers of GFF Holding Company, Soperton, Georgia
(TA-W-81,182) and LaGrange, Georgia (TA-W-81,182A) who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after February 13, 2010, through two years from the date of
certification, are eligible to apply for adjustment
assistance under Chapter 2 of Title II of the Trade Act of
1974, as amended, and are also eligible to apply for
alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section 246
of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended.”
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 10th day of February, 2012.

/s/ Michael W. Jaffe
______________________________
MICHAEL W. JAFFE
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance